Collingwood has been without Travis Cloke in just nine of its past 210 games.

Sadly, life without the power forward appears set to become a short-term reality, as Cloke faces up to a stint on the sidelines with a calf injury.

Should he miss this week, Collingwood Media looks at some of the options who may enter the side or change their role as the team looks to fill the Cloke-sized absence in the goal square.

17. Jonathon Marsh
Games: 0
Goals: 0
It would be a bold move to bring Marsh in for his debut and start him in attack. But it wasn’t long ago that the West Australian was considered to be a forward, for it was his work in that part of the ground that saw him lured to the Westpac Centre with pick No. 77 in the 2013 National Draft. He kicked 20 goals and 37 behinds in the WAFL Colts in 2013 but was shifted into defence early last season, where he has remained for the majority of his 26 VFL games.

30. Darcy Moore
Games: 2
Goals: 0
The logical choice to slot into Cloke’s role, in the eyes of many supporters at least. After adjusting to life in the VFL in defence, Moore moved into attack against Werribee in round nine and has since kicked five goals and two behinds in his past three games. He slotted two from four scoring shots against Frankston on Sunday. Previously, Moore kicked 15 goals in 13 TAC Cup games last season including three against Sandringham in the Preliminary Final.

33. Patrick Karnezis
Games: 25
Goals: 26
A known goal kicker in the state leagues, Karnezis has bagged 17 goals in eight VFL games this year, including three hauls of three and one of four just one week ago against Footscray. On Sunday, the coaches used him through the midfielder where he collected 25 disposals, won nine clearances and laid seven tackles. He kicked 31 majors last season, but has not played in the senior side since round seven. Karnezis has been involved as the substitute in three of his four senior games as a Magpie.


44. Corey Gault
Games: 4
Goals: 4
The 22-year-old figured in three of the team’s early-season wins, playing predominantly as a key forward with stints as a relief ruckman. A hip flexor injury has kept him out of the past two VFL games, having kicked seven goals in his six games prior. He is averaging a career-high 13.3 disposals and 4.7 tackles in the state league, while is kicking at 87.5 per cent efficiency in front of goal.

Role change?

4. Brodie Grundy
Games: 34
Goals: 9
Standing at 203cm and weighing in at over 100 kilograms, Grundy will automatically draw the attention of the opposition defence. In an attempt to work Nic Naitanui over, Grundy won 17 disposals and four tackles on Saturday, as well as kicking his fifth goal for the year.

15. Jarrod Witts
Games: 36
Goals: 17
Witts has not kicked multiple goals in a single game since round 14 last season. Despite his height (209cm), he has played predominantly in the ruck since Darren Jolly left the club at the end of 2013. But he has spent time in attack, kicking seven goals in his first four VFL games in 2011, including a haul of three against Bendigo.

Record without Clokey
A quick look at Collingwood’s top goal kickers in Cloke’s absence since 2007.

Collingwood 13.11 (89) def. by Western Bulldogs 15.9 (99)
Round 13 2008
Burns 2, Medhurst 2, Swan 2, Wood 2

Collingwood 7.11 (53) def. by Carlton 16.8 (104)
Round 8 2009
Anthony 2, Lockyer 2

West Coast 9.12 (66) def. by Collingwood 12.16 (88)
Round 9 2009
Anthony 3, Davis 3, Lockyer 2

Collingwood 17.12 (114) def. Port Adelaide 11.10 (76)
Round 10 2009
Anthony 4, Dick 3, Didak 3, L.Brown 2

Collingwood 15.10 (100) def. St Kilda 6.16 (52)
Round 16 2010
L.Brown 3, Macaffer 3, Beams 2, Shaw 2

Collingwood 19.13 (127) def. Richmond 6.9 (45)
Round 17 2010
Davis 4, L.Brown 3, Didak 3, Macaffer 3, Jolly 2

Brisbane 8.9 (51) def. by Collingwood 14.16 (100)
Round 10 2013
Reid 3, Elliott 2, Kennedy 2, Martin 2, Swan 2

Greater Western Sydney 9.13 (67) def. by Collingwood 11.9 (75)
Round 22 2014
Thomas 3, Broomhead 2, White 2

Collingwood 8.8 (56) def. by Hawthorn 18.13 (121)
Round 23 2014
Gault 2, White 2